Lily ran ahead and stopped in front of Adrian Blake, breathing heavily. She lifted her hand to block his path.
"You can't just leave like that," she said, struggling to catch her breath.
Adrian stepped forward slowly. Lily instinctively clutched her scarf.
"I've already told you once," he said coldly. "Stay within your limits."
He brushed past her and walked away.
For a moment Lily stood frozen. Then the meaning of his words hit her, and anger surged through her chest.
She rushed after him.
"This is a shrine," she said firmly from behind him. "Everyone is equal here. How can you talk about status in a place like this?"
Adrian stopped.
Lily almost walked straight into him.
He turned around slowly, a faint smirk forming on his lips.
"Why?" he asked. "What did I do?"
Lily stared at him.
"You know exactly what you did," she replied. "Maybe you're so rich that you're not afraid of anyone. But you're not greater than God. Whatever you are today is because of Him."
The smirk disappeared instantly.
"Whatever I am," Adrian said coldly, "has nothing to do with God."
Lily blinked in shock.
"How can you say that?" she asked. "God has given you everything!"
"God gave me nothing," Adrian interrupted sharply. "Adrian Blake writes his own destiny."
He stepped closer.
Lily shrank back.
"You should think twice before standing in front of me again," he warned quietly. "Because your God won't be able to save you."
He turned and walked away again.
But Lily wasn't done yet.
"You might not believe in God," she called after him, "but in my world there is nothing greater than Him!"
Adrian turned back, anger flashing in his eyes.
"If there really was a God," he said bitterly, "there wouldn't be so much pain in this world. In this world, whoever has money has power."
Lily's mouth fell open.
Frustrated, she picked up her slipper.
"If God gives pain," she said firmly, "He also gives the cure. No matter how much money or power you have, you cannot go against Him. As long as I believe in my Goddess, she will stand beside me."
She looked straight into his eyes.
"Only God can change someone's destiny… not even Adrian Blake."
She dropped her slipper and walked away angrily.
Adrian turned and watched her leave, his expression dark and calculating.
He pulled out his phone.
"Send the fashion show footage to every news channel," he told his assistant.
After hanging up, he thought coldly:
You believe in your God so much, don't you? Let's see if He can save you from this.
Back at the Carterhouse, Lily carried a cup of tea to her mother, Helen.
Helen quietly pushed the cup away.
Hurt but silent, Lily walked to Emily's room.
Emily sat quietly on the bed.
"Are you okay?" Lily asked softly.
Emily nodded weakly. "It's only been a couple of days… you're hurting too."
"I just want to see you smile again," Lily replied.
Emily smiled faintly.
While tidying the room, Emily suddenly noticed Lily's blouse.
"What happened to the pearls on this?"
Lily froze.
Memories of Adrian pulling the string flashed through her mind.
Emily immediately noticed her reaction.
"Lily… what happened?"
Lily hugged her sister.
"Nothing," she whispered.
But Emily knew her too well.
Eventually Lily admitted she had seen the "fashion show guy" again.
"That red governor!" Lily complained. "His nose is always in the air. He may be rich, but his head is the same size!"
Emily laughed despite herself.
Meanwhile Adrian sat beside the pool at the Blake mansion.
He was about to eat dinner when DanielBlake stopped him.
"Don't eat meat today," Daniel said nervously. "Angela told me to remind you."
Adrian glared at him.
But silently put the fork down.
Back at the Carter house, Lily continued telling Emily how she had scolded Adrian.
Both sisters burst into laughter.
Emily's favorite song started playing on television.
Immediately Lily began dancing dramatically.
Emily joined her.
Their mother Helen entered the room and caught them.
Lily froze for a moment.
Then she walked behind Helen and wrapped her arms around her.
"Mom," she said playfully, "you're the captain of this team. If the captain doesn't lead, how will we win the World Cup?"
Emily laughed loudly.
Helen's anger slowly melted.
Lily gently took her hands.
"Tell me something… are you my mother?"
Helen's eyes filled with tears.
"Yes," she whispered, hugging her tightly. "I'm your mother."
Emily joined the hug.
Soon Lily pulled them both into dancing again.
Just then Robert Carter walked inside.
The women stopped instantly.
But Robert smiled.
"Move aside," he said, grabbing a yellow scarf. "Let me show you how to dance!"
Soon all four of them were dancing together happily.
Their laughter ended abruptly when AuntMargaret walked into the room.
Everyone froze.
Helen quickly covered her head.
Robert dropped the scarf.
"What nonsense is this?" Aunt Margaret complained loudly. "My head is already hurting. Emily, go make me some tea!"
She slowly began walking toward Lily suspiciously.
Robert immediately said loudly, "I need to check the shop accounts!"
He walked outside.
Helen whispered urgently, "Take Lily with you!"
Inside the room Aunt Margaret slowly approached Lily.
Lily nervously stepped back.
Just then Robert shouted from outside:
"Lily! Come help me with the accounts!"
Lily rushed outside with visible relief.
Later Lily sat with Robert and Helen near the shop.
The shopkeeper began speaking rudely about Emily's broken wedding.
Lily almost stood up angrily, but Helen held her hand.
The shopkeeper continued saying that the wedding procession could have been stopped if Robert had simply paid the money.
Helen slowly released Lily's hand.
Lily stood up calmly.
"What happened is over," she said firmly. "But today is a new day. If you give me half the money, I will personally speak to that family."
Robert looked proudly at his daughter.
Helen watched anxiously.
The shopkeeper quickly backed down.
Before leaving, Lily checked the account book.
"In your round and round talking," she said lightly, "you added another round number by mistake."
Then she left to buy medicine.
Back at home, Aunt Margaret switched on the television.
Suddenly she froze.
A video clip appeared.
It showed Lily falling straight into Adrian's arms at the fashion show.
The program host began discussing the clip dramatically.
Emily entered the room and saw the footage.
Both women stared at the screen in shock.
"Call your father!" Aunt Margaret shouted.
Meanwhile Lily walked through the market with the medicine.
People began staring at her strangely.
Whispers followed her.
Confused, she touched her face nervously.
Then she saw a television in an electronics shop window.
The same footage was playing.
Again and again.
Her falling into Adrian Blake's arms.
People nearby whispered loudly.
"Shameless girl…"
Lily turned away slowly.
Tears streamed down her face as humiliation spread through her heart.
Her life had just been thrown into the public eye.
And this time…
there was no escaping it.